Video Games are for Children!

[Gwork]

Yep. That's what some ladies told me the other day when I asked a girl if she ever played any. My family thinks the same thing. They think that I "waste my time" playing video games. In fact, most people where I live embrace this philosophy.

I argue that video games are a form of entertainment just like television or movies- they are better imo because you can interact with them, not just watch a story. Not only that, I get about a hundred times more entertainment value out of most of my games than they do paying to watch a movie ONE time or tv that they have to pay for EVERY month (I don't watch tv anymore hardly). But, they still don't get it- the appeal I mean- and they still think it is something more appropriate for a child or teenager to do, not an adult.

Ashal over at LL has said pretty much the same thing with regards to his/her family. In the many years that he/she has administered the site, not once has he told a family member or friends what he does for a living. He said they simply would not understand.

Now, I hear you saying "But, I don't think that way!". Don't you though? Let's say you find out that your congressman or a company CEO loves playing video games (a secret love), but, you somehow find out. Doesn't this revelation diminish them in your eyes just a little? They are supposed to be responsible people in positions of power, whom others depend on for leadership and guidance....and you find out that they play a silly little game to pass the time! Now there is that doubt in your mind about their qualifications for the job. I mean, who normally puts playing video games on a resume or application even as a hobby? What if you found out that not only do they play the game(s), but, they're serious about it?!! You would think that was cool, sure. But..........

 

Why?!!!

Why is it so different? What, exactly, is so childish about it?

 

Lol the ladies are funny, aren´t they? Once you found something in life, that makes you happy stick to it. A hobby is a gift in life, it lift you up makes you happy. Doesn´t matter what other people might say continue! Who knows what they like eh?

[kthompsen]

Games (at least good ones) just revolve around pattern recognition. This is "naturally" a game to every human. Even the old women the OP mentioned, even if they don't realize it. We all seem to like it. Video games merely made an art out of it (plus, it tends to make it more fun by giving us second tries until we figure a pattern out. In essence, that's the heart of any good game..the reward you get from finally nailing the pattern).

[Deleted54170User]

Games (at least good ones) just revolve around pattern recognition. This is "naturally" a game to every human. Even the old women the OP mentioned, even if they don't realize it. We all seem to like it. Video games merely made an art out of it (plus, it tends to make it more fun by giving us second tries until we figure a pattern out. In essence, that's the heart of any good game..the reward you get from finally nailing the pattern).

 

And Morrowind is just like that. I did not read any of the preparation to play Morrowind because the Internet was so slow back when I got it I just winged it from the beginning and I did not know anything other then what the little messages taught me that I could read before the faded.

 

Those messages were too fast for my 52 year old brain and so I got pummeled by Mudkrabs, slaughtered by Slaughterfish, when I died I figured I had to restart from the beginning because my character died. So, several times before I managed to read a message that seemed to flash on the screen and disappear before I read it all I restarted the game and gave my new child a new name and died again. Then, once, a miracle happened. I was staring right where the dinky little words showed up. And saw the choice to respawn. The next couple of days I got tougher then the Mudkrab and only died when I fought 3 Slaughter Fish. Seyda Neen probably never had any other player that never got to Balmora or found that wood elf's stash in the tree trunk for almost a week.

 

Pardon me, but those Slaughter Fish were a gang, and I could not believe they were that tough. It had to be something I had not learned from one of those teeny tiny messages I barely could read on a 15 inch monitor with 640 by 480 resolution.

 

Another chance reading I realized I had a way to equip the weapon I found in the dining area after they processed me to continue. Oh! And I thought a little bit of me died when my character lost too, because I, never having played an RPG before, DUKE NUKEM LIVES, thought each time my character died I died too.

 

Most of the time I rediscovered the way to open the items equipment and spells, accidentally. After starting a new game, a bunch of times I was able to remember how.

 

Whoah! That gave my game, my character new powers, a new sense of security, and with a Frost Axe I found in a Tree Stump I had to jump to from the porch to get it, the porch right next to the Seyda Neen Lighthouse I BEAT the Slaughter Fish too!

 

Don't mind my child like behavior. I've learned I can act like a child and write like a child whenever I want to too. Believe me! Fun is a word better applied to things you can do in a child like manner. Which to my thinking means that, no one really ever wants to grow mentally out of the childlike state. Some of us have older siblings and they use this mysterious spell on us so we leave our childlike status and we obey, "Act your Age!"

 

Worked on me! I think if I give it a little more practice I could learn how to act like a child just like the good ole days and FRUSTRATE all the others until they SHOUT at me again! "ACT YOUR AGE! NOT YOUR IQ!" If today my age was the same number I got after I took the IQ test I would qualify to be as intelligent as a child.

 

Whoopie! I am a child again! Yee HAAAA! :laugh:

[HadToRegister]

Why is it so different? What, exactly, is so childish about it?

 

It boils down to "I don't like it, and I think you shouldn't like it either, because I am unable to see other people's perspectives and understand why they can get enjoyment out of something that I don't understand, therefore, I think that everybody should dislike games as much is I do, because there's no other way to see this, than through my viewpoint"

 

 

[soupdragon1234]

Its a generational thing. They weren't around when they were young so its something only younger people do. When todays kids get old it'll be accepted. Its a game, in essence no difference from card games, the only difference is the medium and the level of interaction.

 

The same thing happened with other forms of entertainment, novel fiction is a perfectly respected art form today, it wasn't always the case there was a time when it was regarded as a worthless activity and not worthy of serious attention.

[kvnchrist]

It's an issue of prejudice. People talk about gamers spending hours alone on a computer, but in the same breath they speak about people who spend all day long, sitting in a boat, with a fishing line n the water. They call that being a sportsman as they see the fact that a person outmaneuvering a fish requires more skill than outmaneuvering several human opponents in a alternate reality.

 

People, in groups go to a movie and a diner and spend more money to be entertained for 3-4 hours than a game costs, that sometimes gives hundreds of hours of entertainment. Go figure.

[DatBastardOni]

Sure it has a lot to do with personal perspective, but successful early consoles like the NES being literally sold in the little boys toys aisle certainly doesn't help with public expectations.

[Deleted54170User]

If I catch a fish I can make a special feast to eat. Unless I use a branch off a bush, some thread off a spool, a cork, and a fish hook made from a safety pin, dig up some worms, and walk to the nearest stream to go fishing modern fishing trips round out at about $400.00 for the complete day.

 

The drive to fishing supply store, buy bait, buy fishing reel, fishing rod, fishing line, sinkers and hooks, rent a boat. Row or motor to the likeliest spot where fish are, drop anchor, and fish until the rental return time.

 

There is a better chance I will have something to eat when I go fishing that way, then there would be if I went fishing in ESO: Tamriel or ESO: MORROWIND or ESO: Summerset where I could spend $39.99 up to 149.99 on the game's crowns to spend in the game.

 

I can order a pizza and six pack of soda, or a smoothie, delivered for under $30.00 and stay home playing an offline video game.

 

Games with 'M' for Mature for 17 year old's and older, does not equate to be a child's game.

[sirdsrphoenix]

People who believe that video games are for children are the same people who believe that animated shows and movies are for children. While in reality, they are simply different media through which to tell a story. Next time someone tells you that video games are for children have them watch a play-through of The Last of Us. If they say animated movies are for kids, have them watch Grave of the Fireflies.

[Deleted54170User]

I suspect?! :geek:

 

I hypothetically think, that the only people who say to someone, that "video games are for children" are people who have children, video games, and

 

don't want you or I ( single and married females at home all day, and males like me, disabled ) hanging around when they are playing the video games

 

they claim are for their children.

Their children, who will start school here soon, where they likely will hypothesize about learning how to make video games for a living so they can get

 

their parents to spend lots of money on game crowns and game gold, so when they grow up they, the children now, can afford to get married and have

 

children who they will claim that the childish stuff they (don't) play when they grow up is for their children. :devil: